diff --git a/bin/install-wp-tests.sh b/bin/install-wp-tests.sh
index b9e7cf7..3c22d56 100755
--- a/bin/install-wp-tests.sh
+++ b/bin/install-wp-tests.sh
@@ -138,13 +138,14 @@ recreate_db() {
 	shopt -u nocasematch
 }
 
-create_db() {
-	mysqladmin create $DB_NAME --user="$DB_USER" --password="$DB_PASS"$EXTRA
+cremysqladminate_db() {
+	mysqladmin create $DB_NAME --user="$DB_USER" --password="$DB_PASS" $EXTRA
 }
 
 install_db() {
 	# the mariadb commands are not available on some self-hosted runner images
 	apt update && apt-get install mariadb-server mariadb-client -y
+	systemctl start mariadb
 
 	if [ ${SKIP_DB_CREATE} = "true" ]; then
 		return 0